Jay Warren
Encyclopedia
Jay Calvin Warren is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands
.
held on 15 December 2004, defeating Brenda Christian
, who had held the Mayoralty in an interim capacity following the dismissal from the post of her brother, Steve Christian
, by the British authorities on 30 October 2004, following his rape
convictions. Warren was expected to take up his duties sometime around Christmas, when he was to return from Tahiti
, where his daughter Darylynn Warren was hospitalized and recovering from a longboat
accident in which her arm was nearly severed. Besides Darylynn, he has another child: Charlene Warren.
Jay Warren was no stranger to the post to which he was elected. From 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1999, he served in an almost identical capacity as Magistrate, as the chief elected official was known prior to a constitutional revision in 1999. Previously, after a brief stint as a member of the Island Council
in 1982, he had assumed the second-most influential position on the island in 1985, as chairman of the Internal Committee. He continued to hold this office up to his election to the office of Magistrate in late 1990.
As Magistrate throughout most of the 1990s, Warren had executive, legislative, and judicial authority, serving ex officio as chairman of the Island Council
, which doubles as the dependency's legislature and court. Following the constitutional review and the replacement of the Magistrate by a Mayor in 1999, Steve Christian
was elected to the new position. Warren remained politically active, however, and served two further terms (in 2000 and 2002) as Chairman of the Internal Committee.
Warren's election to the Mayoralty in 2004 was welcomed by British Deputy Governor Matthew Forbes. "We appointed Jay as chairman of the (island's) internal committee in the period after the trials and before this election," Forbes told Radio New Zealand
from his office at the British High Commission (the equivalent of an embassy in Commonwealth
countries) in Wellington
. "He's very experienced and I'm sure he'll make a very good mayor."
He was succeeded by Mike Warren as Mayor in December 2007.
to be found not guilty. He is the brother of Meralda Warren
, who has also held political office and is one of the most vocal defenders of the islanders' traditional acceptance and practice of sexual activity from puberty onwards. Meralda Warren herself was elected to the Council on 15 December 2004 also.
.
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
.
Political roles
Jay Warren was elected Mayor of the last remaining British dependency in Oceania in the general electionPitcairn Islands election, 2004
An election was held in the Pitcairn Islands, the last remaining British dependency in Oceania, to elect a Mayor, a Council Chairman, and four Councillors to sit on the Island Council...
held on 15 December 2004, defeating Brenda Christian
Brenda Christian
Brenda Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor of the Pitcairn Islands :...
, who had held the Mayoralty in an interim capacity following the dismissal from the post of her brother, Steve Christian
Steve Christian
Steven Raymond Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor:...
, by the British authorities on 30 October 2004, following his rape
Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
On 30 September 2004, seven men living on Pitcairn Island , went on trial facing 55 charges relating to sexual offences. On 24 October, all but one of the defendants were found guilty on at least some of the charges they faced...
convictions. Warren was expected to take up his duties sometime around Christmas, when he was to return from Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, where his daughter Darylynn Warren was hospitalized and recovering from a longboat
Longboat
In the days of sailing ships, a vessel would carry several ship's boats for various uses. One would be a longboat, an open boat to be rowed by eight or ten oarsmen, two per thwart...
accident in which her arm was nearly severed. Besides Darylynn, he has another child: Charlene Warren.
Jay Warren was no stranger to the post to which he was elected. From 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1999, he served in an almost identical capacity as Magistrate, as the chief elected official was known prior to a constitutional revision in 1999. Previously, after a brief stint as a member of the Island Council
Island Council (Pitcairn)
The Island Council is the legislative body of the Pitcairn Islands. It also doubles as the court of the British dependency, making it one of the few bodies in the world to possess both legislative and judicial authority.The Council has ten members...
in 1982, he had assumed the second-most influential position on the island in 1985, as chairman of the Internal Committee. He continued to hold this office up to his election to the office of Magistrate in late 1990.
As Magistrate throughout most of the 1990s, Warren had executive, legislative, and judicial authority, serving ex officio as chairman of the Island Council
Island Council (Pitcairn)
The Island Council is the legislative body of the Pitcairn Islands. It also doubles as the court of the British dependency, making it one of the few bodies in the world to possess both legislative and judicial authority.The Council has ten members...
, which doubles as the dependency's legislature and court. Following the constitutional review and the replacement of the Magistrate by a Mayor in 1999, Steve Christian
Steve Christian
Steven Raymond Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor:...
was elected to the new position. Warren remained politically active, however, and served two further terms (in 2000 and 2002) as Chairman of the Internal Committee.
Warren's election to the Mayoralty in 2004 was welcomed by British Deputy Governor Matthew Forbes. "We appointed Jay as chairman of the (island's) internal committee in the period after the trials and before this election," Forbes told Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
from his office at the British High Commission (the equivalent of an embassy in Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries) in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. "He's very experienced and I'm sure he'll make a very good mayor."
He was succeeded by Mike Warren as Mayor in December 2007.
Controversy and acquittal
On 24 October 2004, Warren was acquitted of an indecent assault charge. He was the only one of seven defendants in the Pitcairn rape trial of 2004Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
On 30 September 2004, seven men living on Pitcairn Island , went on trial facing 55 charges relating to sexual offences. On 24 October, all but one of the defendants were found guilty on at least some of the charges they faced...
to be found not guilty. He is the brother of Meralda Warren
Meralda Warren
Meralda Elva Junior Warren is a Pitcairn Island nurse, radio operator , artist, and author of the cookbook Taste of Pitcairn...
, who has also held political office and is one of the most vocal defenders of the islanders' traditional acceptance and practice of sexual activity from puberty onwards. Meralda Warren herself was elected to the Council on 15 December 2004 also.
Ancestry
Warren is the eldest child of Jacob Ralph Warren and Mavis Mary Brown Christian. He has a younger sister, Meralda WarrenMeralda Warren
Meralda Elva Junior Warren is a Pitcairn Island nurse, radio operator , artist, and author of the cookbook Taste of Pitcairn...
.